WEBVTT >> FIRST, WE HAVE TO SAY THATDOWNSIZING IS TOTALLY COMPLETELYLEGAL.BRIAN: BUT AARP CONSUMERADVOCATE MARY BACH SAYS THATDOESN'T MEAN CONSUMERS HAVE TOACCEPT PRODUCT DOWNSIZING.>FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, MARYHAS BEEN KEEPING TRACK OFPRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEENDOWNSIZED LIKE THIS CONTAINERAJAX DISH SOAP THAT ONCECONTAINED 22 OUNCES.>> THEY HAVE GRADUALLY WHITTLEDAWAY AT THE AMOUNT THAT ISACTUALLY IN THE CONTAINER.BRIAN: NOW, THE BOTTLE CONTAINSJUST 12.6 OUNCES.DIAL SOAP HAS RECENTLY BEENDOWNSIZED FROM 4.5 TO 4 OUNCES.>> THEIR MARKETING RESEARCHSHOWED THAT THEIR CUSTOMERWANTED A BAR OF SOAP THAT THECOULD HOLD IN THEIR HANDCOMFORTABLY WHEN THEY BATHED.BRIAN: WHEN MARY FINDS ADOWNSIZED PRODUCT, SHE OFTENCALLS THE COMPANY TO FIND OUTWHY IT WAS SHRUNK.>> THE EXCUSES ABOUT WHY THEY DOIT ARE SOMETIMES LAUGH OUT LOUDFUNNY.BRIAN: LIKE THIS SMALLER BOX OFSPAGHETTI.SELLING FOR THE SAME PRICE A BOXWITH FOUR MORE OUNCES OF PRODUCT.>> WHICH WILL FIT IN YOUR POTMORE EASILY.THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE AS HAVETO BREAK THE SPAGHETTI.BRIAN: OR THE ROLL OF PAPERTOWELS THAT WAS REDUCED BY 20SQUARE FEET FOR SMALLER SPILLS.>> AS IF WE ARE NOT SMAT ENOUGHTO TAKE A REGULAR SIZED PAPERTOWEL AND TEAR IT IN HALF IF WEHAVE A SMALL SPILL.BRIAN: MARY SAYS COMPANIESDOWNSIZE TO INCREASE PROFITS ANDMOST PEOPLE DON'T NOTICE.>> MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT THATATTUNED TO HOW MUCH IS IN APACKAGE.BRIAN: FINALLY TONIGHT HERE'S, WHAT MARY TELLS ME IS ONE OFOUTLANDISH AND COMICAL OFDOWNSIZING EXAMPLES.THIS IS A BAR OF SOAP WITH AHOLE IN THE MIDDLEACCORDING TO THE PACKAGE, THISWASTE REDUCING SOAP HAS BEENDESIGNED TO ELIMINATE THE UNUSEDCENTER OF TRADITIONAL SOAP BARS.AS SHE SAID, YOU CANNOT MAKETHIS UP.SHE ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS ALLPERFECTLY LEGAL.THERE IS NO LEGAL RECOURSE OR USAS CONSUMERS OTHER THAN PAYINGATTENTION TO WHAT WE ARE BUYINGAND PAYING ATTENTION TO THEPRODUCT.AS MY FATHER USED TO SAY ANDSTILL SAYS, A GUY RIDING BY ONHORSEBACK WILL NOT NOTICE.THE COMPANIES ARE HOPING WE WILLNOT NOTICE EITHER.IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS, ISN'T IT?PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU AREBUYING.

Are you paying more – and getting less – at the grocery store?

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Updated: 1:59 PM CDT May 10, 2017

Do you think you're paying more at the grocery store, but getting less? Here's a look at what's shrinking and why it's changing.